“INCOMPARABLE” TRIP TO ITALY, SEA DREAM MEGA-YACHT
CARIBBEAN HOLIDAY AND “THE ULTIMATE SLUMBER PARTY”
HEAD HOST OF
STELLAR WINE AND LIFESTYLE LOTS UP FOR BID AT
BOCA BACCHANAL WINEFEST & AUCTION
Community Programs of the Boca Raton Historical Society
and
The Children’s Place South to Benefit
BOCA RATON, FL – (March 1, 2004) - Let the
revelry begin! A weekend of great wine matched with delectable
culinary delights will tempt the savvy palates of patrons at the
Second Annual Boca Bacchanal Winefest &Auction as they prepare
to sip, savor and bid at the event’s world-class auction,
all to support local children’s causes. On tap are ten vintner
dinners on Friday evening; wine seminars; BOCAnalia, a sumptuous
Saturday luncheon food and wine tasting on the green at the Centre
for the Arts at Mizner Park ; the Grand Finale Auction and Dinner
Saturday night and a fabulous “Brunch in the Sky”
to wrap up festivities on Sunday.
Presented by the Boca Raton Historical Society March
19-21, 2004, this year’s edition of Boca Bacchanal will
benefit community programs of the Historical Society, and the
Children's Place South in Boca Raton, a part of The Children's
Place at Home Safe. The Palm Beach County organization provides
24-hour residential and community- based services to children
and families impacted by child abuse and neglect, substance abuse
and HIV/AIDS.
“We have invited an impressive array of internationally
acclaimed vintners and chefs to stir up culinary excitement,”
says Beth King, who along with Cathy Arts, is co-chairing this
year’s fundraiser. “Our goal is to involve the entire
community in a delightful cultural event while they help us raise
support for children’s causes.”
The centerpiece of Boca Bacchanal is the Grand Finale
Dinner and Auction at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, which
features rare wines and lifestyle lots at live and silent auctions
and a multi-course dinner displaying the culinary talents of top
chefs.
“The wineries participating in Boca Bacchanal
come to us from the world’s great wine producing countries:
France, Italy, Australia and the United States,” states
Chris Kearney, Vice president of National Distributing Company.
“They bring an international flavor that compliments the
great lineup of chefs, making this a tremendous wine and food
event. But, importantly, wine is also a lifestyle. At the auction
bidders will be vying for an outstanding array of distinctive
and impressive wine lots.” Kearney described several of
the most attractive offerings:
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A true wine collector’s treasure, the
Merryvale Vineyards Profile vertical collection includes two
bottles each of the 1998, 1999 and 2000 vintage, packed in a
branded wooden box. All six bottles of this acclaimed Bordeaux-inspired
Napa Valley blend are signed by Winemaker Stephen Test. This
package also includes a VIP tour and tasting at four at Merryvale
Vineyards, situated in the heart of the Napa Valley, with President
Peter Huwiler, followed by dinner at nearby Tra Vigne, one of
Napa Valley’s best restaurants.
- Wineries also have a “personality” and Swanson Vineyards,
owned by Clarke Swanson, an icon in the wine world, ranks among
one of the top wineries in California. The offering by this prestigious
winery represents some “serious Swanson”: a rare vertical
collection of Alexis, Swanson’s proprietary Napa Valley
estate blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah (set
includes one Magnum each of the 1998, 1999 and 2000) and a Jeroboam
of 1995 Napa Valley Syrah, a concentrated, complex wine of impressive
character and aging potential. Also included is a personalized
tasting session with Clarke Swanson in the famous “Swanson
Salon.”
- Wine is an integral element in Australia, and this fine travel
lot will enable the high bidder and a guest to discover it in
style. It begins with a three-bottle Penfolds gift box that includes
a true wine treasure: a bottle of 1998 Penfolds Grange, among
the finest wines ever produced from this fabled vineyard. The
travel package begins with a two-night stay for two in Adelaide,
close to both the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley, two of Australia’s
finest wine regions. Penfolds will host a tour and tasting at
its winery in Barossa Valley, including a visit to the famed Grange
Vineyard. Also included in the package is dinner for two at Magill
Estate Restaurant, one of Australia’s finest dining establishments.
The auction spotlight will also be on hugely appealing
travel/lifestyle /wine prizes such as:
-
A romantic trip for two to Northern Italy’s
Piemonte region, home to magnificent wines and classic cuisine.
Begin with a generous selection of the region’s outstanding
vintages for your cellar. Vacation includes round trip business
class tickets from Miami to Milan, three nights in the beautiful
Villa Tiboldi, winery tours, tastings, fabulous meals, including
at a Michelin-starred restaurant, and much more.
- The Ultimate Slumber Party at the Boca Raton Resort &
Club featuring sumptuous accommodations for six in the plush,
two-story, 6,000-square-foot Presidential Suite. The perfect “girl’s
night out”, includes indulgent spa treatments for each guest
at the Resort’s luxurious Spa Palazzo, Tapas, the Sommelier’s
recommended wine, and a Grande Breakfast in the Cathedral Dining
Room. (“Girl talk” not included!)
- The premier sailing experience, a seven day Caribbean yacht
holiday on one of the luxurious mega yachts, Sea Dream or
Sea Dream II, which includes five star service, a magnificent
stateroom, fascinating ports of call such as Nevis, Virgin Gorda,
Antigua and St. Barts and exquisite cuisine.
- Napa Valley Magic, a 4-day, 3-night discovery tour of fabled
Napa Valley’s food, wine, scenery and hospitality, expertly
guided by nationally known food and wine columnists Monty and
Sara Preiser; includes accommodations at the Rancho Caymus Inn,
dinners at the acclaimed Terra, Brix and the Culinary Institute
of America restaurants; barrel tastings, winery tours, a brandy
and cognac tasting and so very much more.
- Owners Dick and Ann Grace of Grace Family Vineyards now have
more than 4,000 people on the waiting list to purchase their wines,
but they reserve much of their tiny production for charitable
donations. This impressive lot features double magnum bottles
of the famed Grace Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
from the superb 2001 vintage, and the inaugural release of Dick
and Ann Grace’s newest creation, the 2001 Grace Family Vineyards
Blank Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Cathy Arts, Chris Kearney, Beth King
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Becky
Davis, James Reaux,
Megan Tormey(seated), Renee Feder
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A famed winemaker and international philanthropist,
Grace will also be lending his services as Honorary Wine Chairman.
Joining Grace in orchestrating the Grand Finale evening will be
master Auctioneer Dave Reynolds and James Reaux, Executive Chef
of the Boca Raton Resort & Club, who will preside over a delectable
dinner created by renowned fellow culinarians and prized vintners.
These outstanding chefs include Ken Frank (La Toque, Rutherford,
CA); Alice Weingarten (Alice’s Key West, Key West,
FL); Todd Slossberg (Hotel Jerome, Aspen, CO); Clark
Frasier & Mark Gaier (Arrows Restaurant, Ogunquit, ME);
Rich Vellante (Legal Sea Foods, Boston MA); Roberto Donna
(Galileo, Washington, D.C.); Robbin Haas (Chispa,
Coral Gables, FL); Maurilio Garola (La Ciau Del Tornavento,
Treiso, Italy) Michelle Bernstein (Azul, Miami, FL);
Jim Dodge (The Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA); Nick Morfogen
(32 East, Delray Beach, FL) and Oliver Saucy (Café
Maxx, Pompano Beach, FL).
The presenting vintners are Clarke Swanson, (Swanson
Vineyards, Rutherford, CA); Christopher W. Silva (St.
Francis Winery, Sonoma, CA); Peter K. Huwiler (Merryvale
Vineyards, Napa Valley, CA); Rolando Beramendi (Barone
Ricasoli, Brolio, Casanova di Neri, Fonterutoli, Tuscany,
Italy); Jeffrey Paterson (Mt. Eden Vineyards, Santa Cruz,
CA); John W. Gay (Penfolds, Australia); Tom Selfridge (Chalone
Wine Group, Napa, CA); Norman and Rosalee DeLeuze (ZD
Winery, Napa Valley, CA); Kathy Benziger (Benziger Family
Winery , Glen Ellen, CA); Olivier Masmondet (Maison Louis
Jadot, Beaune, France) and Piedmont producers Malvira’,
Cigliuti, Borgo Maragliano, and Cascian Fontana (Piedmont,
Italy).
For information on Boca Bacchanal package rates
and accommodations partners please call 561.395.6766, ext. 101
or visit the event Website at www.bocabacchanal.com.
Please note: All Boca Bacchanal sponsors and weekend package ticket
purchasers receive priority for event selections. Limited number
of tickets and space available.
Boca Bacchanal chairs include: Cathy Arts and Beth
King, Event Co-Chairs; Chris Kearney and Saby Diaz, Vintners;
Howard Olshansky, Margaret Hudson, John Mullhall and Sylvie Godin,
Children’s Place Liaisons; Chef Jim Dodge, Chef Advisory
Chair; Chef Joe Coletto, BOCAnalia Chefs Chair; Chef James Reaux,
Auction Dinner; Mary Jane Evans and John Lewis, Vintner Dinners;
George Brown and Linda Davidson, BOCAnalia; Renee Feder and Becky
Davis, Grand Finale Auction Dinner; Barbara Teage and Megan Tormey,
Auction; Ginny and Peter Page, Brunch; Carter Strickland, Wine
Committee; Carla Marsh, Chef Acquisitions and Public Relations;
Ann Rutherford, Underwriting; Kae Jonsons, Pre-events; John Hannifan,
Treasurer; Mary Csar, Marketing; Robin Deyo, Website and Carole
Putman, Database. Serving in an advisory capacity are last year’s
chairmen Ann Rutherford, Carla Marsh, Margaret Mary Shuff and
Joan Wargo, as well as Tim and Julie Snow, and Lisa Warren.
Boca Bacchanal corporate and private sponsors include
Mrs. Keith C. Wold, Boca Raton Magazine, National Distributing
Company, Boca Raton Resort & Club, JM Family Enterprises,
Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, The Wine News,
Un Po' Pazzo, Inc., Carla Marsh Public Relations, Cendyn, Newman Craske
Family; Mizner Park, Rutherford, Mulhall, PA; Publix Super Market
Charities, Champagne Taittinger, the R. A. Ritter Foundation and
SUNNY 104.3 FM.
COMPLETE LIST OF AUCTION LOTS AND PARTICIPATING
VINTNERS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Winefest Events
Friday, March 19 - Vintner Dinners
Celebrated chefs will pair with vintners to create memorable dining
experiences in historic settings and private residences. The dinners
will take place at ten sites, each an outstanding venue which
displays Boca Raton's distinctive character. Admission: $300/person
Saturday, March 2 - BOCAnalia “Luncheon Revelry on the
Green” at the
Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park
Stroll, taste and enjoy delicious food "by
the bite" created by 20 of the area's top chefs and over
60 wineries. An Exceptional presentation of featured wines will
be offered along with the food, under the shelter of an attractive
tent. Guests will stroll, sip, dine and listen to live music.
Presenting restaurants include Arturo's, Johannes, Legal Sea Food,
Le Bistro, Mark's at the Park, PF Chang’s, Tsunami, Pranzo,
The Hillsboro Club, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Gi Gi’s Tavern,
Zemi .
Time: 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Wine Seminars by Michael Weiss of the Culinary Institute of
America
11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Site: Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park (Boca Raton Museum of
Art)
Admission: $ 40 per person (includes souvenir wine glass)
Saturday, March 20 - Auction and Dinner
Set at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, the Grand Finale Dinner
and Auction will be a delicious fantasy of sensational food and
great wine followed by an exciting auction orchestrated by respected
master auctioneer David Reynolds.
6:30 PM Reception, Dinner & Auction
Admission: $250 per person
Sunday, March 21 – Brunch in the Sky
The culmination of a glorious culinary weekend,
the Brunch in the Sky will be set at 27 Ocean Blue at the top
of the tower at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
Noon - $ 75 per person
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